This, that and the other — a closer look at some of today’s draft picks, the upcoming QOs and more

I’ll try to avoid the easy way out and not simply cut-and-paste the latest online and print edition story on Day 2 of the NHL draft. But I won’t mind if you take a minute to follow the link in the right-hand column and check it out.

That way I can try to throw some fresh material into this latest post, knowing we’re on the same footing as far as the basics elsewhere.

Really, go ahead.

OK, you’re back now.

The problem with draft-day coverage is you’ll be hard-pressed to find a team that isn’t going to say it got the players it wanted. You play the hand you’re dealt, even when the cards are chosen and not randomly dealt.

But credit Doug Wilson with acknowledging what should be obvious: You don’t really know how you’ve done until a lot of time has passed.

“I think we’re pleased with what we accomplished today,” he began, “but the truth certainly will be in future years when these guys come and help our hockey team.”

*****So what else is there to say about the players chosen by San Jose? We’ll let director of scouting Tim Burke have the floor.

First, on Chris Tierney, who didn’t put up big numbers and didn’t get a lot of ice time playing for the London Knights. Still, were the Sharks attracted by the fact he played on a team that has produced a lot of high-end NHL players? After all, they took Tierney well above his projected spot.

“Not really,” said Burke before framing things from only a slightly different vantage point.

“He was a good younger player on a real good team that had a lot of good players. He should be able to step up into another role next year,” Burke said. “On a bad team, he probably goes higher because he’s going to be seen more.”

If you argue that Tierney was taken too soon, by the same standard — at at least Central Scouting’s — you can say the Sharks stole Daniel O’Reagan at 138th. After all, he was projected as North America’s 76th best skater.

O’Reagan drew a lot of attention for his background. His father, Tom, scored five goals and 17 points in 61 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins before spending a decade playing in Germany.

Burke was asked to compare the father and son as players.

“The old man was a good player. . . . I think they’re a little different,” Burke said.
Daniel “plays every part of the rink. Hes got the speed and the ability to stay on the inside even though hes not big. . . . He doesn’t take off early like a lot of smaller guys do or take the long way around at times.

“His father didn’t have the exposure this kid has at a younger age,” Burke said. “I told his father he’s going to be better than him and he better be.”

Burke also talked about Daniel O’Regan’s size — 5-foot-9, 165 pounds.

“He’s not the biggest guy, but he plays above his size,” the director of scouting said. “He was one of those guys we didn’t move up to take and we were lucky. We thought he might fall because of his size.”

And then there’s the Sharks final pick — the one, it turns out, with the most intriguing background. His life isn’t a perfect parallel to Douglas Murray’s, but Joakim has lived in Sweden, represented that country in international competition and currently plays for Cornell (whose web site provides much of what follows).

Joakim Ryan holds dual citizenship. His mother is former tennis pro Catarina Lundqvist, who was good enough to win several WTA tournaments and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon; his father is William Ryan, her former agent. The family owns a racquet club in New Jersey.

Without getting into all the complications, the IIHF has ruled Joakim has not me their residency requirements to continue to play for Sweden and now he could be competing for the United States down the road.

*****The Sharks weren’t ready to say how soon they thought their first-round pick, Tomas Hertl, might be ready to play in North America rather than the men’s elite league where he competes in the Czech Republic.

In fact, that was going to be on the agenda when Burke and Wilson were finished with their media duties this afternoon.

“It’s not our call as much as we’ve got to get through this preliminary phase with him and his agent,” Burke said. “I’m not going there.”

*****The deadline for NHL teams to extend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents is Monday, but Wilson wasn’t ready Saturday to say who would — or wouldn’t — be getting one.

“We’re just about to meet now,” he said. “We’ve got some decisions we’ve got to make on some things, but we’re 99 percent there.”

*****Finally, worth noting that the Carolina Hurricane used the 2nd round draft pick obtained from the Sharks in the 2011 deal for Ian White to select Brock McGinn, Jamie’s brother. Worlds collided.

:

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

2Minutes4Whining@91
“Shouldn’t a blog like this allow CONSTRUCTIVE as well as negative comments”

No offense but your statement shows considerable favoritism towards those who support status quo and bias against comments that are critical. Critical comments often include alternatives or suggestions to change status quo, which is constructive criticism imo. Whereas positive comments seem more inclined to mock/attack critics, which is not “constructive.”

GP

IMO, Couture is not off the table if your return is Rick Nash.

For those over-analyzing, This fixes the too many centers issue.

GP

Explaining an opinion that something doesn’t make sense and why is neither a positive or negative attack.

It is simply explaining an opinion that something doesn’t make sense and why.

DumbPuck™

I think Couture, with only two full seasons’ worth of NHL experience, is a far more well-rounded player than Nash.

For all the DW detractors, it could always be worse – we could have Scott Howson or Garth Snow as our GM. I read a report online today that stated that Snow offered the Islanders’ complete set of picks for the Blue Jackets’ first rounder. This is what that deal would have looked like:

Now which of these GMs is more stupid?? Howson, for essentially dealing six players for Ryan Murray (who they Isles wanted) or Scott Howson, who didn’t think Murray was worth six extra players?? No wonder these teams suck all the time…

DumbPuck™

That should have read “Snow, for essentially dealing six players for Ryan Murray”….

2Minutes4Whining

#99 DWilly,

You STILL never answered my question about what team has EVER traded away its top four players. You proposed a ridiculous trade where we give away all our top players to get the top players of a non-playoff team, with the only rationale that you don’t like those four players and we’ll get some “speed and grit”. Any GM who made that trade, based on your reasons, SHOULD be immediately fired.

And, to no surprise, since I disagreed with your radical proposition, I’m now a member of “the PR department”. I really WISH I could get paid to write about hockey, but alas, I’m just a high-school teacher who finally has half as much free time as you spend railing on this forum.

DWilly MUST GO

@ 104

I applaud Garth Snow for:

#1 Having the stones to make that offer(hopefully stones won’t get me censured again).
#2 Openly saying this is the guy I want and going for it, not spewing PC BS like here in SJ.
#3 Not trying to backtrack after the fact saying, just kidding or somthing to that effect.

2Minutes4Whining

@Slappy 101:

No offense taken. However, if you’ve even followed the latest exchange between DWillyMustGo and myself, explain to me how his suggestion to trade our top four players to Montreal–and then attacking me as the “Sharks PR department” for disagreeing–could be labeled as “constructive”.

I enjoy reading people’s speculation about what we could get in a trade for Marleau or which free agents we should sign, but the same people railing OVER and OVER about how we’re a horrible team with no future–in spite of 2 straight Conference Finals and 8 straight playoff appearances (of which this past season was only the 2nd time we’ve been knocked out in the first round)–and suggesting we fire the GM and trade away EVERYBODY is getting kind of ridiculous.

DWilly MUST GO

@106

Somtimes it’s better not to answer a Stupid question, and as a school teacher i’m sure you have had a few Stupid questions asked of you, no dice amigo.

Wow DWilly, any shred of credibility you had left just went completely out the window. If you were an Islanders fan, we’re supposed to believe you would support Snow?

If San Jose was more like your new idol’s team and NEVER made the playoffs and had no success to begin with, I guess then you’d be safe from all that “BS” that gets spewed around here…it’s hard to create spin with nothing to spin in the first place!

The Real Teal

Saying we should have signed Ian White as an UFA and not doing so was lack of effort from management. Sometimes there is nothing management can do, i.e. Belfour signed with Dallas for less than what the Sharks offered. Stuart signed with a West Coast team despite Detroit’s efforts to keep them there. Just because they didn’t sign an UFA doesn’t mean they didn’t try.

2Minutes4Whining

Should have said “Rick DiPietro contract”, not “trade”.

The Real Teal

Meant to insert \/ that it isn’t necessarily correct to make the statement \/ into “Saying … effort from mgmt” Hope you can forgive me.. it’s been a while.

DWilly MUST GO

@110

For a School Teacher you are a bit THICK.( not sure if that’s allowed)

NEVER said I was an Islanders Fan!!

I just admire People who are BOLD and don’t run and hide if things don’t go their way.

Quit trying to cause a problem. Reading comprehension is obviously not your strong suit. Quit trying to read between the lines!!

slappy

ZEKE@100
The main reason why the Pens were beaten by the Flyers in the POs, imo, was because Fleury had an uncharacteristically horrible PO series. Fleurys PO stats were: GAA 4.63 and .834 Save %. No team is going to win the Cup with those type of goal tender stats. Plus Penguins’ bu goalie was older and injury plagued in reg season limiting his TOI and when he was called upon to step in to replace Fleury in the POs – which happened at least 2X that I recall – BJs PO stats were even more horrible than Fleurys – 6.00 GAA and a .667 Save %.

As for reg season – tho the Penguins were picked to win the Cup by several analysts at the beginning of reg season, as it turned out Penguins were hit very hard by a sequence of injuries to several key players – not just Crosby. Penguins were the #1 team for loss in total manhours this past reg season. It was amazing – largely due to Malkin carrying the team and Coach Byslma getting the best out of his depleted roster – that Penguins were able to be one of the Leagues leaders for total points considering the circumstances. But imo Penguins were a fragile PO team with a Flyers matchup or not. Some adversity is good for a team but so much adversity over the course of 2/3 of reg season is mentally/physically exhausting – fighting thru adversity time after time ultimately takes its toll – a team that has had to dig deep to find that extra gear for most of the reg season is positioned for a fall – while other PO teams are elevating their games, Penguins had no more in the tank to give.

DumbPuck™

slappy –

To be fair about it, while Fleury did let in a couple of soft goals, he can’t be held directly responsible for that GAA. The team gave up some ridiculous goals as a result of defensemen or forwards completely leaving their man unchecked, resulting in easy goals for the Flyers.

DWilly MUST GO

Check out the article on why to Bring Nabby Back at Fearthefin.com it makes some good sense.

Also, The Islanders would be a good trade partner for the Sharks IMO, as they have good YOUNG D-Men that we could trade to get.

Just saying.

2Minutes4Whining

DWilly, I’m sorry that putting a few words in all caps offended you. I realize you’ve never used all caps yourself:

“You ( by that I mean the PR Dept.) could call it an ATTITUDE OVERHAUL, for a team that desperately needs one.”

“there is NO HARM in trying to IMPROVE this team with a HUGE trade.”

Oops, guess those didn’t count. But please, don’t stop your comedy routine. The topper was (after insulting my intelligence and reading comprehension skills) telling me to “Quit trying to cause a problem.” You clearly don’t like someone challenging your ideas, so when I say your suggestions are ridiculous, you respond with personal attacks.

You want to trade our four top players and fire our GM, you openly admire Garth Snow, and you expect to be taken seriously? You honestly think that any sane person here believes you would “admire” Doug Wilson if he gave away every single one of our draft picks to move up two spaces?

And yet you have the gall to tell me (or anyone else) to “Quit trying to cause a problem.” There are lots of names for people like you, but for now I’ll choose “Hypocrite.” Hope it was OK with you that I used a capital H.

slappy

DumbPuck@104
“For all the DW detractors, it could always be worse – we could have Scott Howson or Garth Snow as our GM.”

lol! Cant disagree with that observation.

But otoh, I dont get why some DW-supporters come hell or high water get so miffed when fans criticize him – its not like DW has not earned criticism after 8 years at the helm and not putting together a Cup winning team, despite being given permission by ownership to spend to the cap and having zero hockey-knowledgeable bosses second guessing, micromanaging his decisions. Getting to the WCF 2x* under DWs reign but winning only 1 game out of 9 is not a stat to brag about.

And people should take a gander at other teams fan boards – criticism of DW @ WTC is in the main quite mild and respectful compared to what other fans say about their GMs – notable examples: McPhee is roasted 24/7 by all Caps fans – ditto for Stan Bowman and he has been GM of the Hawks a comparatively short time and the Hawks have won a Cup under his reign! fans’ criticism of Brian Burke, Bob Murray, and Jeff Tambellini is non stop. Keep in mind that GMs earn 7 figure salaries for their services – ownership pays GMs those huge salaries from profits earned – fans’ support of a team contribute greatly to teams’ profits- its not like fans dont have a vested interest in their team and how they are managed.

This draft was a snore for Sharks fans. Tomas Hertl sounds as vanilla as they come. He probably won’t see big league ice any time soon ..if at all. If the Sharks are so concerned about a first round exit, and poor team D, they need to get on the horse and make a trade, or 3. Obviously “the system” they employ didn’t work last season. I’m interested to see who they bring in for a coaching staff change. Oh man, I can’t take the suspense….

slappy

GP@102
“This fixes the too many centers issue.”

Am curious about your “real” reasons for believing that the acquisition of Rick Nash would be a overall + for the Sharks even if it meant losing Couture.

I dont believe that you personally think having the # of centers we have on the roster is a problem issue. Having the luxury of multiple centers on the roster has always been promoted as a + factor not a – . Also our top 6 natural centers have shown they can play wing quite ably not just center( eg. Pavs, Marleau, Couture).

DWilly MUST GO

@118

Oops, guess those didn’t count. But please, don’t stop your comedy routine. The topper was (after insulting my intelligence and reading comprehension skills) telling me to “Quit trying to cause a problem.” You clearly don’t like someone challenging your ideas, so when I say your suggestions are ridiculous, you respond with personal attacks

Actually, and this just goes to my point, First I asked you to quit trying to cause a problem, then I brought up the fact of your reading comprehension.

But go ahead and keep it up, because you don’t bother me. Just don’t mis quote me.

DWilly MUST GO

@118

In order to attack somone personally, you need to use their name or some other form of identificationof the person, and I don’t know you from Adam.

Also, it was not an attack, just an observation.

Wonderogre

Zeke – This comment section has gotten too clogged for me to maintain a discussion, but re who would trade a first for Marleau – I could see a situation where a team like Pittsburgh, who appear on the verge of going for an all-out approach similar to 2009, being unable to nab Parise, would be willing to toss a first for Marleau (assuming he would be available, of course) instead.

GP

slappy, I have no “real” reasons. Others might or do infer, that I would have an agenda. I don’t have one much too a many dismay.

The balance of what you think about what I think is generally correct. Too many centers is not an issue on any NHL team and especially the Sharks. Face off stats kinda show the benefits they enjoy.

Your question, IMO, comes down to Nash vs Couture. (take salaries out of the equation — not relevant for this comparison).

I inject Marleau — IMO, plays better as a center, wins FOs and will take more of them. There is no decision if Couture is not in Teal. Nash is a winger. Settles an issue there.

Directly though: Nash is bigger faster and maybe more shifty, but that last one may be close. Nash IMO, harder to play against then Couture overall.

There is no “real” reasons because, no player is untouchable except by contract. And that can sometimes be overcome. Marleau for example is of the contract variety atm. But his value has been proven year after year anyway. Couture, can not be untouchable if the right player come back.

However, IMO, I don’t believe any longer that Nash will wear Teal next. Besides, The Sharks can get much better without that route. Acquiring Nash would fill many holes and answer many questions. But, the cost would probably be another hole which may be harder to re-fill.

Seriously, thanks for the question.

slappy

Wondreogre@124
If I were PM in the sunset years of my career and not having been on a Cup team, Id jump at the opp to be traded ( with his NMC kept intact) to Pittsburgh to play with arguably the worlds 2 best young hockey players -Crosby and Malkin -with a SC winning “dynamic duo” HC (Byslma) and GM (Shero). With a approx $7 M per salary, the Marleau Family could rent palatial digs in the Pittsburgh area for 2 hockey seasons.

PM isnt going to get his name on the Cup playing for the Sharks the next 2 years, Im sorry to say – much much better odds if he agrees to being traded to the Penguins imo.

DWilly MUST GO

@124 &126

It would be better to trade Marleau for another NHL’er than for a first IMO, as you can get younger talent that you don’t have to wait to develop.

Also, As musch as I don’t lioke Marleau’s play, you can get more than a first for him.

Just Saying.

slappy

GP@125
The reason I asked you for your reasons is because to be honest, I have vacillated about the Nash trade question. I was surprised to read that DW was reportedly so firm about Couture being off the table, whereas Pavs was offered up to CBJ as one of the trade chips instead. I asked myself what made Couture so much more valuable than Pavs in DWs mind (as well as most WTC fans’ minds) -I couldnt see it. Yoy are the only WTC poster that has ever come out ( that I can recall) and said Couture shouldnt be off the table if trading him gets the Sharks Rick Nash. I was curious why you made such a bold statement.

GP

slappy,

During the season at the trade deadline, I believed Couture should not be part of that potential trade to bring Nash here. There was a chemistry thing to begin with. However, Now that the season is over and a new team is being forged, all the options need to be looked at. And, Couture is valuable enough to require a certain level player come back in a deal.

So “bold,” I can understand it. But really, to me, NHL common sense.

nomorenabby

David Pollak,

Weren’t the RFA tenders going to be announced today? Any news on that?

Thanks,

-NMN

ZEKE

@Wonderogre —

I think your formula for trading for Patrick is the only one that makes sense — a team in a ‘go for it’ mode.

I think you only consider going after Marleau if you need a goal scorer.

You suggested Pittsburgh. Are the Pens worried about scoring? The Pens were tops in the NHL last year in goals scored — and that was despite playing 60 games without Crosby. And they passed on Ribeiro, right? Another offense-oriented player and $2million less in cap space. Not sure why they wouldn’t have gone after Ribeiro if they wanted some added offense.

My guess is if Pitt ‘goes for it’, they go for it by adding onto the defense first.

I did take a glance at their cap space and adding Marleau makes it problematic if the cap doesn’t go up (and we won’t know until after the labor deal). If it does go to $70million, they should be OK with room. Of course, they’d probably go after Weber or Suter with the space instead …

I don’t see Pittsburgh as a candidate for Marleau. He’s not solving a problem for them. But depending on the cap space available, he could be creating one.

GP

ZEKE,

I think all the discussion about a Marleau trade is moot.

But, regarding Pens cap space, the separate trades of Staal and Mickalek opens up about 9-10M I think.

With Pit seemingly becoming a player in the silly contract season (next week), I don’t have many hopes that the Preds will have a top D pair next season.

GP

oops..

Michalek. LOL, that spelling may not be precise either, aye?

cl2

pining for long gone sharks who are retired or washed up is pathetic.

over the years we see posters pining for a return of Nolan, Cheechoo, Friesen, Nabokov, etc etc

maybe they will clamor for the return of Claude Lemieux too.

Buddy Elf

LOL @ FDW #23

“I know when I had a meeting with one of the Sharks owners he mentioned that he wanted the comment section of this blog eliminated because of negative comments regarding the team. He even told me he “Talked to you about it”.”

hahaha… much like MLBSF texts with Couture.

When in doubt, make stuff up!

GP

NMN,

I fully expect a new post later or tomorrow morning from DP about QOs since the deadline was today.

GP

buddy, he doesn’t need to be in doubt you know. 😉

David Pollak

nomorenabby and GP,

Today was indeed the deadline for QOs and many teams have put out their list. The team I cover and you follow chose NOT to do that; since I don’t have subpoena powers, all I can do is ask and point out the inconsistency. Which I have done.

Told names will be available tomorrow.

And, no, I’m not really happy about it either.

David

nomorenabby

Thanks for asking! My post had no snarky intent and I hope it didn’t come across that way.

David Pollak

nomorenabby,

Didn’t take it that way at all.

David

ZEKE

GP, I looked at the Pens cap and they were at $55million as of today, this past season was $64million — so they have $9million in space if the cap remains the same. Obviously if the cap goes up to $70million, everyone is going to have a big chunk of space, but I don’t think many folks think that’s where the labor agreement will wind up.

Pitt only had 18 players under contract for that $55million — and only 3 d-men under contract that I think they would really trust. I’d think they go after defensemen — a logical move for a team that led the NHL in offense. Or perhaps very good defensive forwards. Marleau would be a lot of $$ and cap space for an area that Pitt doesn’t have much of a need.

But my bottom line is similar to yours — after seeing what Ribeiro got for dallas, I don’t see enough value in trading Marleau. After all, we gave up two pretty good goal scorers in Seto and Heatley last offseason, and we did have mor trouble scoring this year. We need the scoring!!

GP

Ribero…they can have him. One of the sneakiest dirty players in the NHL. Only gets over shadowed by the likes of Ott, Cory Perry, etc.

He has some skill yes, IMO, never in the same class of Marleau.

slappy

ZEKE@141
According to a 06/24 sports column in the Pittsburgh Trib, Shero is pulling out stops to win the Cup next season; Paul Martin (a top 4 dman with a 3 year @$15 M total remaining on his contract ) is being actively shopped; Shero wants to fill what he perceives to be 2 major holes in the current roster –
a. an elite Left handed offensive Dman partner for Letang (Suter?)
b. an elite scoring Left Winger for Crosby ( Parise?) btw Parise and Crosby are close friends

slappy, you think Marleau fits into the Pens equation if Parise falls through? Parise would be an addition that they wouldn’t need to trade for, and he’ll get a deal in the same general range as Marleau’s $6.9million cap hit.

And while the Pens want to get rid of Paul Martin, they’ve got a similar issue to a lot of teams — who wants $15million over 3 years for a guy who hasn’t been very good? Tough to offload those guys.

Plus, I do think they are more likely to invest on the blue line. If toughness is an issue, do we offer up Marleau + Murray and what ever other pick it takes and hope they part with LeTang … ?

slappy

ZEKE@144
IF Marleau wants to win the Cup before he retires (the Cup is at the top of his career bucket list) – and he so motivated that he asks DW to try to arrange a trade to the Penguins – yes, I believe the Penguins will get a highly skilled, fast skating, quick release Cup hungry Left Winger in PM.

Remember the year PM had the C stripped away, he was the designated scape goat fall-guy for the Pres winning Sharks being ousted in the 1st round by the #8 seeded Ducks, then TM pointedly demoted PM from JTs top line in favor of Heater and Seto? – PM took it all and had a career year, even making the Cdn Olympic team to everyones surprise.

PM still has plenty of “elite” left in his tank – he has aged quite well – if wants to win the Cup as a last hurrah, he needs to get on a team that is a front runner for the Cup – Penguins are one of the best for narrowing your odds if you only have 2 years left before hitting 3-5.

Its nearly impossible to repeat a Cup win – so that leaves the Kings out and its unlikely DW would ever consider trading PM to a div rival anyways. Its got be an East Coast team – Devils? they have huge $ problems and they seem still in a rebuild youth mode – can Brodeur deliver again next year? maybe maybe not. If the Devils lose Parise to the Wild, they dont have a Crosby and Malkin left behind. If I were PM I would not consider the Devils front runners next year. Flyers – Brysgalov is a mercurial type of goalie – great one game, horrible the next – Flyers aren’t going to win the Cup with Bryz as their #1 in net – they need to have Bryz + ? goalie tandem in place imo. Flyers’ top 2 D are questionable – Timmonen is long at the tooth and Pronger prolly permanently out. Its hard to find top 2 D the likes of a Pronger and Timmonen type holes. Rangers – meh! – Torts is a screamer which would not suit PM at all. Rangers will be a PO contender – maybe – but thats it at best. Their shot blocking style will be figured out by more teams than just the Devils next season.

If Parise doesnt sign with the Penguins, but Suter does, and I am Marleau really wanting to win the Cup before I do my retirement swan song – I would definitely ask for a trade to the Penguins. I sure as heck would not stick around with the Sharks bunch.

And imo Penguins would do well to get a Cup hungry Marleau in trade. The dark horse in the EC might be the Caps but they need 3 new really good coaches for starters and they also need to shore up their D but McPhee is sort of showing his expiration date imo – no new ideas happening in GMGMs brain, I suspect. And he hates paying $ for really good UFAs ( sound familiar?) so GMGM tends to use trades alot which fills one hole and creates another ( sound familiar?).

slappy

Which of these 2 GMs is the most clueless of the lot: The Islanders GM Garth Snow would have traded all of their picks in the 2012 NHL draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the No. 2 overall pick. But the CBJs GM Scott Howson declined the offer!!!

You wanna ask David Pollak if he had a discussion about this blog with Kevin Compton?

ZEKE

@slappy — not sure on the Isles/CBJ deal. Theyboth could have been pretty sharp. After all, if you can get one stud from a draft, its a very good draft. And if the 2nd overall pick is that good, you hold on to him unless you get a boatload in return. And lets face it, beyond the first part of the first round, there’s a lot of miss in the draft.

slappy

ZEKE@148
But the #4 draft pick the Islanders got – Reinhardt – was reportedly as good as Murray who was picked by the CBJ @#2. Its not like the Islanders did not have a top 5 Round 1 draft position already. I think the most clueless of the 2 GMs was Howson for declining the Islanders’ offer – CBJ would have made off like bandits with that haul.

Snip from the yahoo article:

“for the Jackets’ No. 2 pick, the Islanders offered pick Nos. 4, 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185. The bounty would have given the Jackets the following picks: 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182 and 185. And if that weren’t enough, the Jackets could have had the Kings’ No. 30 if they wanted it.”

Iafrate

Yo DP-

Posters have failed to abide by the house rules of this blog for a long time- they were never enforced- simply presented.

Bullying goes both ways around here and the overly optimistic are just as guilty as the consistently critical. Excuses should not be made for either.

Its OK to start enforcing the rules and policies- just be consistent and fair- valid criticism has a place here.

And I am sure, as you are fully aware, serious hockey towns with a scope and breadthe of hockey culture much deeper than SJ have much more spirited debates and emotional charged blogs than here.

This place is light and full of poems in comparison.

Just saying- if you finally decide to enforce the house rules- do it fairly and objectively understanding that it goes both ways. Blind optimism can be just as aggressive and controlling and people should be free to express their opinions on either side as long as it is in a manner that respects the house rules.